Servant Leadership
The concept of servant leadership emerged in the 1970s with Robert K. Greenleaf's article entitled "Servant as Leader." In Mark 10:42-45 it is clear that God expects us to be servant leaders.
Unselfish servant leadership refuses to rest on the inherent power of position and desires to empower and release others for ministry. Servant leadership focuses on the needs and growth of those being led, not the needs of those who are leading. There are many leadership techniques and principles available to us. Some are very attractive. Leaders can reason that since the approach works, it must be good. This is blatant pragmatism. Leadership models oriented toward power and control are problematic in ministry. This leads to low-trust ministry. Servant leadership desires to enhance and enrich the lives of those being lead through unselfish servant-hood. Biblical leadership stresses authentic humility.
Christian leadership is not based on any inherent or acquired authority. Rather, Christian leaders are instruments of Christ. We do not care about getting the credit for things. Servant leadership is not about power or position; it is about a life modeled after the life of Jesus Christ. Servant leadership is a departure from the egocentric concept that seems to pervade current secular thinking and then has spilled over to the church.
Philippians 2:1-11 describes servant leadership: do nothing from rivalry or conceit, do things in humility, count others more significant than yourselves, look not only to your own interests but the interests of others, and have the mind of Christ who made Himself nothing taking the form of a servant. Follow the example of Christ - He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even the death on a cross.
Jesus illustrated or demonstrated servant leadership in John 13:1-20 when he washed the disciples feet. Let me encourage each of you that are involved in ministry to follow a very different model of leadership than is practiced by the world and dominated by a person's sin nature. This model is servant leadership.
Unselfish servant leadership refuses to rest on the inherent power of position and desires to empower and release others for ministry. Servant leadership focuses on the needs and growth of those being led, not the needs of those who are leading. There are many leadership techniques and principles available to us. Some are very attractive. Leaders can reason that since the approach works, it must be good. This is blatant pragmatism. Leadership models oriented toward power and control are problematic in ministry. This leads to low-trust ministry. Servant leadership desires to enhance and enrich the lives of those being lead through unselfish servant-hood. Biblical leadership stresses authentic humility.
Christian leadership is not based on any inherent or acquired authority. Rather, Christian leaders are instruments of Christ. We do not care about getting the credit for things. Servant leadership is not about power or position; it is about a life modeled after the life of Jesus Christ. Servant leadership is a departure from the egocentric concept that seems to pervade current secular thinking and then has spilled over to the church.
Philippians 2:1-11 describes servant leadership: do nothing from rivalry or conceit, do things in humility, count others more significant than yourselves, look not only to your own interests but the interests of others, and have the mind of Christ who made Himself nothing taking the form of a servant. Follow the example of Christ - He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even the death on a cross.
Jesus illustrated or demonstrated servant leadership in John 13:1-20 when he washed the disciples feet. Let me encourage each of you that are involved in ministry to follow a very different model of leadership than is practiced by the world and dominated by a person's sin nature. This model is servant leadership.
Good thoughts! I like Greenleaf's attitude for business leaders: What are you in business for?? The answer may be, "I am in the business of growing people -- people who are stronger, healthier, more autonomous, more self-reliant, more competent. Incidentally, we also make and sell at a profit things that people want to buy so we can pay for all this." (Servant Leadership, 1977, p. 146-147) Good stuff, thanks.
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